A division bench comprising Justice M Chockalingam and Justice P R Shivakumar, disposing of a PIL filed by a resident of Rappusal village, modified the earlier order of the court permitting the sporting only for January and February.

The Judges extended the time frame for the sport from two months to four months, accepting the contention that manjuvirattu is conducted in connection with temple festivals in the months of Panguni and Chitarai.

The Judges rejected the request of the government pleader to accord the benefit to other sporting events like rekhla race (bullock cart race), saying the petition pertained only to manjuvirattu.

A series of litigations were filed on March 29 last year when Justice R Bhanumathi directed the state government to prevent cruelty to animals in the guise of sporting events such as jallikattu (taming the bull), rekhla race and manjuvirattu. The verdict led to more litigations for and against the sports.

However, a division bench comprising Justice Dharma Rao Elipe and Justice P P S Janardhana Raja on March 9, 2007 set aside the single Judge's order and allowed to conduct the sporting events for two months during Pongal (January and February).

They also issued several guidelines to be followed by the authorities in the interests of participants and the animals.